World Series Of Poker Schedule Released; Begins May 31st

The 2011 World Series of Poker looks to attract more poker players than ever to Las Vegas starting in May.

Poker players around the world can now begin planning their trips to Las Vegas for the 2011 World Series of Poker. The event that started in 1970 will begin the new season of play on May 31st.

Every year, thousands of poker players flock to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas with the hope of capturing one of the most prestigious rewards in sport, a gold bracelet. This year, fifty-eight of those bracelets will be given out at the WSOP.

In past years, the Heads-Up event has been only for professional players. This year, a new $25,000 Heads-Up No Limit Championship event will kick off the WSOP. The event will be open to the first 256 players that sign up.

Many No-Limit events will be held throughout the WSOP, much like in past years. The 2011 edition will also feature all of the poker variations that have come to define the games biggest event.

New rules will be in effect that will help players deal with some of the longest tournaments they will play in all year. Start times of 12:00 pm and 5PM have been chosen for this year’s WSOP events. The noon starts will have a maximum of ten hours of play in a given day. The 5 pm starts will have an eight hour max.

The main event will begin this year on July 7th. Play will continue at the main event with four first days, and then subsequent days until the final table is reached on July 19th. The final table will then break, and reconvene on November 5th. Play will go on until a winner is crowned.

ESPN will televise the final table on November 8th. The rest of the WSOP will be televised by ESPN in the months leading up to the final table in November.